LSU Tigers Face Alabama in Must-Win SEC Baseball Series

BATON ROUGE, La. — The seventh-ranked LSU Tigers aim to rebound this weekend as they host the No. 15 Alabama Crimson Tide for a three-game Southeastern Conference baseball series, starting Thursday, April 17, at Alex Box Stadium. With a record of 32-6 overall and 10-5 in conference play, the Tigers are currently tied for fourth in the SEC standings, trailing first-place Texas by three games.

After dropping their last three SEC games — a sweep against No. 9 Auburn — LSU is eager to turn their fortunes around. Coach Jay Johnson emphasized the importance of confidence and resilience in his players as they prepare to face another top-ranked opponent.

“I want to see our team leave it all out on the field in what will be a very competitive environment,” Johnson said. “We’re facing another Top 15 team this week, and that’s just the way it is in our league,” he added, noting the challenges that SEC competition brings.

Game one of the series will begin at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 17, broadcast on ESPNU. The subsequent games are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday, with coverage on ESPN2 and SEC Network, respectively.

In a preview of the pitching matchups, LSU will send sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson (6-1, 3.48 ERA) to the mound against Alabama’s right-handed sophomore Tyler Fay (0-0, 4.98 ERA) on Thursday. Anderson aims to bounce back after a rough outing in his last start against Auburn.

Alabama comes into the series with a 30-8 overall record and is also seeking to improve after losing two out of three to Mississippi State last weekend. Led by shortstop Justin Lebron, who ranks high in the SEC with 58 RBIs and 15 home runs, the Crimson Tide poses a formidable challenge for the Tigers.

Historically, Alabama leads the all-time series with a record of 202-181-3 against LSU. However, the Tigers have won 14 of the last 17 SEC series against the Tide, despite dropping the most recent regular-season series in Tuscaloosa last year.

LSU’s dynamic offense features strong performances from players like junior first baseman Jared Jones, who is ranked third in the SEC with 57 hits and fourth in RBI with 53. Freshman leftfielder Derek Curiel holds the team’s longest reached base streak, having safely reached in all 38 games this season.

As LSU returns home, they hope to leverage the support of the crowd to regain momentum in SEC play. “This weekend will be a test for our team, and we need to prove that we can contend with the best,” Johnson said. The series offers an opportunity for both teams to solidify their standings as they head into the later stages of the conference schedule.